Seven Golden Rings: A Tale of Music and Math
by Rajani Larocca (Author) Archana Sreenivasan (Illustrator)
Book Link's Lasting Connection 2020 Title
In this clever, convivial picture book, an Indian boy untangles a mathematical conundrum to win a place at the Rajah's court.
In ancient India, a boy named Bhagat travels to the Rajah's city, hoping to ensure his family's prosperity by winning a place at court as a singer. Bhagat carries his family's entire fortune--a single coin and a chain of seven golden rings--to pay for his lodging. But when the innkeeper demands one ring per night, and every link snipped costs one coin, how can Bhagat both break the chain and avoid overpaying? His inventive solution points the way to an unexpected triumph, and offers readers a friendly lesson in binary numbers--the root of all computing.
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Publishers Weekly
When Bhagat leaves his village in India to seek his fortune as the rajah's musician, his mother gives him one rupee, a chain with seven tiny gold rings, and some invaluable advice: "Remember, Bhagat, you are a fine singer. But you are an even finer thinker." A city innkeeper agrees to accept one gold ring as payment for each night stayed, but Bhagat can only afford to pay the goldsmith to break one link. Is there a way to divide the chain so that no ring goes to waste? Bhagat's clever solution ends up unexpectedly making his fortune, and sets the stage for an engrossing explanation of base 10 and binary number systems in the author's note. LaRocca's story, cast in the cadence of classic folktales, is enlivened by the contrast of Sreenivasan's cartoon illustrations, which render tableaux in a magenta-tinged palette. A deft and engaging introduction to a sometimes flummoxing subject. Ages 7-10. (Oct.)
Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
* [D]eft and engaging. — Publishers Weekly, starred review
* [Seven Golden Rings] succeeds both as an entertaining read-aloud and as a teasing introduction to the binary system. — Booklist, starred review
This heartwarming rags-to-riches story is accompanied by vivid illustrations that pulse with detail, movement, and color. — Kirkus Reviews
Adventure, suspense and a surprise ending make Rajani LaRocca's enchanting picture book debut, Seven Golden Rings, an amusing lesson about the importance of math. — Shelf Awareness
Book Link's Lasting Connection 2020 Title
JUV030020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Asia
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
JUV072000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mathematics
India
Mathematics
Problem solving
Singing
Problem solving in children
Binary system (Mathematics)
